The Manchester Health Film Festival (MHeFF) is the only Manchester-based film festival to champion health discourse through the power of cinema; bringing together filmmakers, health professionals, and the public to spark conversations around health.

MHeFF 2026 will take place across two days, on the 13th and 14th of November 2026 at Vue Printworks, Manchester. The second iteration of the festival will be bigger than ever before, providing an even bigger platform for creatives to talk about health.

The festival debuted in November 2024, with 110 seats reserved, 18 films screened and 8 awards given out. In total, 14 health conditions were covered within the screened films alone, without taking into consideration the charity stalls dotted throughout the venue and the Q&A’s occurring throughout the day.

Join us at #MHeFF26 and explore health through the power of cinema!

(Fee waivers will not be issued for MHeFF 2026 and ONLY health-related films will be considered)

Awards & Prizes

MHeFF 2026 is open to submissions of all health-related short films, with filmmakers able to submit to 4 main categories: Best Short Film, Best Short Documentary, Best Animated Short and Best International Short Film. Each film submitted will be considered for the MHeFF Film of the Festival (FOTF) award, with the FOTF winners awarded £1000!

Alongside the main categories, MHeFF 2026 also offers awards for Best Director, Screenplay, Cinematography and Performance, to spotlight the cast and crew behind the festival's selected films.

Categories:

• MHeFF Film of The Festival (Winner: £1000 Prize) - All submissions will be automatically entered into this category

• MHeFF Best Short Narrative Film
• MHeFF Best Short Documentary Film
• MHeFF Best Animated Short Film
• MHeFF Best International Short Film

Additional Awards:

• MHeFF Best Director
• MHeFF Best Screenplay
• MHeFF Best Cinematography
• MHeFF Best Performance

Rules & Terms

Do:

• Submit your health-related short films, animations and documentaries between 1-20 minutes in length
• Submit projects that have previously premiered at other festivals
• Enter several different categories if you have a range of previous work
• Take the time to ensure your film is submitted to the correct category, with the correct file in the right format
• Include English-language audio and/or subtitles for non-English speaking submissions
• Submit as early as possible

Don’t:

• Submit non-health-related content
• Submit films over 20 minutes in length
• Submit films that feature controversial opinions not backed by research
• Submit any projects that feature political, hateful or harmful subject matter
• Submit projects that you don’t have all the rights to
• Submit films featuring generative Ai
• Submit music videos

Only health-related films will be considered for screening at MHeFF. Fee Waivers will NOT be issued for the event.
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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  • Olz McCoy

    An incredible festival promoting some amazing stories and filmmakers. An honour to attend and be selected. Will definitely be returning.

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Olz, it was an honour to award your project 'Best Short Documentary' at MHeFF 2024. You're a true talent, and we absolutely love what you do. It'd be great to screen your future work in upcoming editions.

    See you again soon, and best of luck!

  • Sarah Skyrme

    The festival was so inviting and inclusive, some great work was shared and we are looking forward to the next one. Thrilled that this is happening in Manchester.

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Sarah. We appreciate your kind words and were thrilled to see animation at our first edition. Your film really spiced up our line-up, and we were honoured to assist in raising the awareness of Hep-C.

    It's been great collaborating further past the festival, and we hope to see you next year!

  • Natalie Lauren

    Lovely festival, run by some really passionate and talented people, all dedicated to filmmaking and using it as a medium to inspire better health. Amazing to have the film's play at the iconic Odeon Great Northern too! With some interesting panels and Q&A'S as well. Well attending, lots of photos and interviews and things.

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We appreciate your kind words, Natalie. Thank you so much for submitting to and attending the first-ever MHeFF. Your project was a barrel of laughs and a fresh take on the health film genre. It was a great feeling watching the audience light up as it was screened.

    We hope to see you again next year, MHeFF26 will be bigger and better than ever before!

  • James Mason

    An amazing experience. Everyone united with their love of film and devotion to telling stories around health. All of the Manchester Health Film Festival team were so helpful and friendly. The day was organised so well. In the heart of Manchester it made the experience all the more thrilling. I said on multiple occasions this felt like a festival that had been running for a long time. If you've made a film around health and are looking at entries, please consider this one at the top of your list!

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, James, it was truly an honour to screen your film at our very first edition, and award you the first ever 'Film of the Festival' prize. We really appreciate your kind words and can't wait to show you what we do next!

    We wish you the best of luck with your future projects and festival submissions.

  • John Lee Taggart

    An amazing showing for a first time festival, we will absolutely be back next year if you'll have us! Well done team!

    December 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We appreciate your kind words, John, and it was a pleasure to have you at MHeFF 2024. Thank you for sharing your project with us. It was great to screen a project that balances information, comedy, and emotion with such nuance at our first edition.

    We hope to see you again next time!